Apparatus and method for managing priority communication

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to obtain billing data associated with a plurality of calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determine special service calls being made based on the billing data, monitor for the special service calls being associated with at least one of one calling number or one network node, and determine an undesired condition based at least in part on the special service calls being made from the one calling number or through the one network node exceeding a threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to network communication andmore specifically to an apparatus and method for managing prioritycommunication.

BACKGROUND

Various architectures and protocols are available for providing voicecommunications between parties, such as Public Switched Telephonenetworks, Public Land Mobile networks, and Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) networks. Similar to other networks, VoIP networks handle callsbetween various parties, including special service calls (e.g., 911calls). Users expect a certain level of reliability for special servicecalls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting withat least one among the communication systems of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of communication systems thatprovides media services;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the communication systems of FIGS. 1-3 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure entails computer-readablestorage medium, having computer instructions for obtaining billing dataassociated with a plurality of calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocolnetwork, determining whether a portion of the plurality of calls are toa special service number based on the billing data, monitoring theportion of the plurality of calls for an undesired condition based atleast in part on the portion of the plurality of calls being from onecalling number or the portion of the calls being from one geographicregion, and presenting an alert when the undesired condition isdetected.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a server having acontroller to obtain call records associated with a plurality of callsover a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determine special servicecalls being made based on the call records, monitor for the specialservice calls being made from one calling number, and determine anundesired condition based at least in part on the special service callsbeing made from the one calling number exceeding a threshold.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a server havinga controller to obtain call records associated with a plurality of callsover a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determine special servicecalls being made based on the call records, monitor for the specialservice calls being made through one network node, and determine anundesired condition based at least in part on the special service callsbeing made through the one network node exceeding a threshold.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a server havinga controller to obtain billing data associated with a plurality of callsover a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determine special servicecalls being made based on the billing data, monitor for the specialservice calls being associated with at least one of one calling numberor one network node, and determine an undesired condition based at leastin part on the special service calls being made from the one callingnumber or through the one network node exceeding a threshold.

Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure entails a methodincluding obtaining billing data associated with a plurality of callsover a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determining whether aportion of the plurality of calls are to a special service number basedon the billing data, and monitoring the portion of the plurality ofcalls for an undesired condition based on the portion of the pluralityof calls being from one calling number or the portion of the calls beingthrough one network node.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 116communicating by way of wired and/or wireless access points (WAPs) withother communication devices and/or a network proxy or web server 122which collectively operate in a communication system 100. Thecommunication device 116 can be a multimode VoIP terminal. However, thepresent disclosure contemplates the use of other types of communicationdevices, including other types of voice, video and data devices. Thecommunication system 100 can comprise a packet-switched network 105. Thepacket-switched network can be an Internet Service Provider (ISP)network 105. The network 105 can be coupled to the network proxy 122,the cellular network 113 and network elements located in one or more ofthe buildings 112 representing an enterprise or residence. The ISPnetwork 105 utilizes technology for transporting Internet traffic.

In an enterprise setting, the building 112 can include a gateway 114that provides voice and/or video connectivity services betweencommunication devices 116, such as VoIP terminals or other forms ofcommunication devices of enterprise personnel. In a residential setting,the building 112 can include a gateway 114 represented by, for example,a residential gateway coupled to central office 106 utilizingconventional telephonic switching for processing calls with thirdparties.

The network proxy 122 can be used to control operations of a mediagateway 109, the central office 106 and the gateway 114. Communicationsbetween the network proxy 122, the communication devices 116 and othernetwork elements of the communication system 100 can conform to anynumber of signaling protocols such as a session initiation protocol(SIP), SS7, or a video communications protocol such as H.323 whichcombines video and voice over a packet-switched network, as well ascryptographic protocols, such as transport layer security (TLS) orsecure sockets layer (SSL), to provide secure communications for datatransfers.

The network proxy 122 can comprise a communications interface 124 thatutilizes common technology for communicating over an IP interface withthe network 105, the media gateway 109, the cellular network 113, and/orthe gateway 114. By way of the communications interface 124, the networkproxy 122 can direct by common means any of the foregoing networkelements to establish packet switched data, voice, and/or videoconnections between communication devices 116 distributed throughout thecommunication system 100. The network proxy 122 can further comprise amemory 126 (such as a high capacity storage medium) embodied in thisillustration as a database, and a controller 128 that makes use ofcomputing technology such as a desktop computer, or scalable server forcontrolling operations of the network proxy 122. The network proxy 122can operate as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) conforming in part toprotocols defined by standards bodies such as 3GPP (Third GenerationPartnership Protocol).

Under the control of the network proxy 122, the media gateway 109 canlink packet-switched and circuit-switched technologies such as thecellular network 113 (or central office 106) and the network 105, suchas an ISP network. The media gateway 109 can conform to a media gatewaycontrol protocol (MGCP) also known as H.248 defined by work groups inthe Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This protocol can handlesignaling and session management needed during a multimedia conference.The protocol defines a means of communication which converts data fromthe format required for a circuit-switched network to that required fora packet-switched network. MGCP can therefore be used to set up,maintain, and terminate calls between multiple disparate networkelements of the communication system 100. The media gateway 109 cantherefore support hybrid communication environments for communicationdevices 116, including VoIP terminals.

The central office 106 can house common network switching equipment fordistributing local and long-distance telecommunication services suppliedby network 105 to buildings 112 (such as dwellings or commercialenterprises). Telecommunication services of the central office 106 caninclude traditional POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) and broadbandservices such as HDTV, DSL, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), IPTV(Internet Protocol Television), Internet services, and so on. Thecommunication system 100 can utilize common computing and communicationstechnologies to support circuit-switched and/or packet-switchedcommunications.

The cellular network 113 can support voice and data services over anumber of access technologies such as GSM-GPRS, EDGE, CDMA-1X, UMTS,WiMAX, software defined radio (SDR), and other known and futuretechnologies. The cellular network 113 can be coupled to base stations127 under a frequency-reuse plan for communicating over-the-air withroaming VoIP terminals 116.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a second communicationsystem 200 for delivering media content. Communication system 200 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with communication system 100 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of said communication system. The system 200includes a distribution switch/router system 228 at a central office218. The distribution switch/router system 228 receives video data via amulticast television stream 230 from a second distribution switch/router234 at an intermediate office 220. The multicast television stream 230includes Internet Protocol (IP) data packets addressed to a multicast IPaddress associated with a television channel. The distributionswitch/router system 228 can cache data associated with each televisionchannel received from the intermediate office 220.

The distribution switch/router system 228 also receives unicast datatraffic from the intermediate office 220 via a unicast traffic stream232. The unicast traffic stream 232 includes data packets related todevices located at a particular residence, such as the residence 202.For example, the unicast traffic stream 232 can include data trafficrelated to a digital subscriber line, a telephone line, another dataconnection, or any combination thereof. To illustrate, the unicasttraffic stream 232 can communicate data packets to and from a telephone212 associated with a subscriber at the residence 202. The telephone 212can be a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone. To furtherillustrate, the unicast traffic stream 232 can communicate data packetsto and from a personal computer 210 at the residence 202 via one or moredata routers 208. In an additional illustration, the unicast trafficstream 232 can communicate data packets to and from a set-top boxdevice, such as the set-top box devices 204, 206. The unicast trafficstream 232 can communicate data packets to and from the devices locatedat the residence 202 via one or more residential gateways 214 associatedwith the residence 202.

The distribution switch/router system 228 can send data to one or moreaccess switch/router systems 226. The access switch/router system 226can include or be included within a service area interface 216. In aparticular embodiment, the access switch/router system 226 can include aDSLAM. The access switch/router system 226 can receive data from thedistribution switch/router system 228 via a broadcast television (BTV)stream 222 and a plurality of unicast subscriber traffic streams 224.The BTV stream 222 can be used to communicate video data packetsassociated with a multicast stream.

For example, the BTV stream 222 can include a multicast virtual localarea network (VLAN) connection between the distribution switch/routersystem 228 and the access switch/router system 226. Each of theplurality of subscriber traffic streams 224 can be used to communicatesubscriber specific data packets. For example, the first subscribertraffic stream can communicate data related to a first subscriber, andthe nth subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to an nthsubscriber. Each subscriber to the system 200 can be associated with arespective subscriber traffic stream 224. The subscriber traffic stream224 can include a subscriber VLAN connection between the distributionswitch/router system 228 and the access switch/router system 226 that isassociated with a particular set-top box device 204, 206, a particularresidence 202, a particular residential gateway 214, another deviceassociated with a subscriber, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, a set-top box device, such as the set-topbox device 204, receives a channel change command from an input device,such as a remoter control device. The channel change command canindicate selection of an IPTV channel. After receiving the channelchange command, the set-top box device 204 generates channel selectiondata that indicates the selection of the IPTV channel. The set-top boxdevice 204 can send the channel selection data to the accessswitch/router system 226 via the residential gateway 214. The channelselection data can include an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)Join request. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/routersystem 226 can identify whether it is joined to a multicast groupassociated with the requested channel based on information in the IGMPJoin request.

If the access switch/router system 226 is not joined to the multicastgroup associated with the requested channel, the access switch/routersystem 226 can generate a multicast stream request. The multicast streamrequest can be generated by modifying the received channel selectiondata. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system 226can modify an IGMP Join request to produce a proxy IGMP Join request.The access switch/router system 226 can send the multicast streamrequest to the distribution switch/router system 228 via the BTV stream222. In response to receiving the multicast stream request, thedistribution switch/router system 228 can send a stream associated withthe requested channel to the access switch/router system 226 via the BTVstream 222.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 300employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture.Communication system 300 can be overlaid or operably coupled withcommunication systems 100-200 as another representative embodiment ofsaid communication systems.

The communication system 300 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)340, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 330, and network elementsof an IMS network 350. The IMS network 350 can be coupled to IMScompliant communication devices (CD) 301, 302 or a Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) CD 303 using a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 320 that connects the call through a common PSTN network 360.

IMS CDs 301, 302 register with the IMS network 350 by contacting a ProxyCall Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with acorresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with anAuthentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) supported by the HSS340. To accomplish a communication session between CDs, an originatingIMS CD 301 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) messageto an originating P-CSCF 304 which communicates with a correspondingoriginating S-CSCF 306. The originating S-CSCF 306 can submit the SIPINVITE message to an application server (AS) such as reference 310 thatcan provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. For example, theapplication server 310 can be used to perform originating treatmentfunctions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF306 in the SIP INVITE message.

Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, and/or isrequesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on).Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 306 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 330 to translate an E.164 telephone number to a SIP UniformResource Identifier (URI) if the targeted communication device is IMScompliant. If the targeted communication device is a PSTN device, theENUM system 330 will respond with an unsuccessful address resolution andthe S-CSCF 306 will forward the call to the MGCF 320 via a BreakoutGateway Control Function (BGCF) 319.

When the ENUM server 330 returns a SIP URI, the SIP URI is used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 307 to submit a query to the HSS 340 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 314 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 302. Once identified, the I-CSCF 307 can submit theSIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF 314 which can call on anapplication server 311 similar to reference 310 to perform theoriginating treatment telephony functions described earlier. Theterminating S-CSCF 314 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 316associated with the terminating CD 302. The P-CSCF 316 then signals theCD 302 to establish communications. The aforementioned process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 3 can be interchanged.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 430. The portal430 can be used for managing services of communication systems 100-300.The portal 430 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) witha common Internet browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer using anInternet-capable communication device such as references 108, 116, or210 of FIGS. 1-2. The portal 430 can be configured to access a mediaprocessor such as references 406, 204, 206, 316, and 324 of FIGS. 1-3and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), anElectronic Programming Guide (EPG), VoD catalog, a personal catalogstored in the STB (e.g., personal videos, pictures, audio recordings,etc.), and so on.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 500.Communication device 500 can be a representative portion of any of theaforementioned communication devices of FIGS. 1-4. The communicationdevice 504 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver 502(herein transceiver 502), a user interface (UI) 504, a power supply 514,and a controller 506 for managing operations thereof. The transceiver502 can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologiessuch as a Bluetooth wireless access protocol, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)access protocol, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT)wireless access protocol, cellular, software defined radio (SDR) and/orWiMAX technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,and next generation technologies as they arise.

The transceiver 502 can also support common wireline access technologiessuch as circuit-switched wireline access technologies, packet-switchedwireline access technologies, or combinations thereof. PSTN canrepresent one of the common circuit-switched wireline accesstechnologies. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and IP datacommunications can represent some of the commonly availablepacket-switched wireline access technologies. The transceiver 502 canalso be adapted to support IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) protocol forinterfacing to an IMS network that can combine PSTN and VoIPcommunication technologies.

The UI 504 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 508 and anavigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, and/or navigationdisk for manipulating operations of the communication device 500. The UI504 can further include a display 510 such as monochrome or color LCD(Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or othersuitable display technology for conveying images to the end user of thecommunication device 500. In an embodiment where the display 510 istouch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad 508 can be presented byway of the display. The UI 504 can also include an audio system 512 thatutilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (e.g.,audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio(e.g., speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 512 canfurther include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an enduser.

The power supply 514 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 500 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The controller 506 can utilizecomputing technologies such as a microprocessor and/or digital signalprocessor (DSP) with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM,SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 600employing an VoIP architecture. Communication system 600 can be overlaidor operably coupled with communication systems 100-300 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of said communication systems.

The communication system 600 can include a call record module 604 incommunication with a VoIP network 602. In one embodiment, the callrecord module 604 can be a billing data management module for collectingbilling information associated with communications occurring in thenetwork 602. The billing information can be analyzed, such as by module606 in order to determine call details or field information includingthe calling number, the called number and the nodes or other topologyover which the communication is or has occurred. Other information canalso be collected from the call detail records, such as a customeridentification. In one embodiment, the call details can be collected orotherwise obtained at pre-determined intervals. An alarm module 608 canbe used for determining undesired conditions associated with particularcategories of priority or special services calls. Special service callscan be associated with a Public Safety Answering Point or a PublicService Access Point. In the United States of America (USA) specialservice calls can be associated with telephone numbers such as 911 or710 calls. Other special service numbers may apply in other countriesaround the world. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended tocover special services calls in any country. For illustrative purposesonly, the present disclosure addresses special service calls in the USA.

In one embodiment, module 608 can correlate network traps withperformance alerts to determine the undesired conditions. System 600 caninclude a ticketing module 610 in communication with alarm module 608 sothat repair orders or other steps can be taken to provide properpriority to designated priority calls.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary method 700 operating in portions of one ormore of the communication systems 100-300 and 600. Method 700 hasvariants as depicted by the dashed lines. It would be apparent to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments notdepicted in FIG. 7 are possible without departing from the scope of theclaims described below.

Method 700 can begin with step 702 where module 604 collects callrecords or data for communications occurring over the VoIP network 602.The call records can include billing data associated with each of theVoIP communications. In one embodiment, the billing data can be invarious formats, such as depending upon the billing entity or vendorgenerating or otherwise associated with the VoIP communication. In step704, the call records can be parsed to determine information to be usedfor the monitoring of undesired conditions. The parsing can obtainvarious information, including calling numbers, called numbers, andnetwork nodes (or geographic locations associated therewith) throughwhich the calls are being made. In one embodiment in step 706, theparsing can be performed based on vendor or entity specific rules. Forexample, formats of the data specific to particular entities can beutilized for parsing the data.

In step 708, module 606 can determine or otherwise designate specialservice calls among the plurality of communications occurring over theVoIP network. For example, the parsed information can retrieve callednumbers that utilize the 911 emergency telephone number or an InternetProtocol National Security and Emergency Preparedness telephone number.In step 710, the module 608 can determine if there is an undesiredcondition associated with a special service call. If an undesiredcondition exists for a special service call then method 700 can proceedto step 712 to present an alert based on the undesired condition, suchas notification to a work center. If on the other hand, an undesiredcondition does not exist, then method 700 can return to step 702 tocontinue to collect call records.

The undesired conditions can include a blocked call, a cutoff call, abusy signal and/or a ring with no answer. In one embodiment, module 608can monitor for a calling number placing a plurality of calls to aspecial services number. If the number of calls from the one callingnumber exceeds a threshold and the calls have not been successful (e.g.,blocked, cutoff, busy, ring without answer) then module 608 candetermine the existence of an undesired condition. In anotherembodiment, module 608 can monitor for a plurality of calling numbersplacing calls to a special services number through one or more networknodes (e.g., a geographic location). If the number of calls from thecalling numbers through the one or more network nodes exceeds athreshold and the calls have not been successful (e.g., blocked, cutoff,busy, ring without answer) then module 608 can determine the existenceof an undesired condition. In one embodiment, the alerts presented instep 712 can be cleared if an undesired condition associated with thecalling number or the network nodes is not determined from the nextcycle of collection and analysis of call records.

In step 714, alerts associated with an undesired condition for a specialservices call can be resolved. For example, re-routing of calls throughdifferent nodes can be utilized, such as through nodes having lesstraffic. As another example, work or repair orders or tickets can begenerated, such as by module 610, to address any equipment conditions orother issues that can be addressed by repair personnel or the like.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, the thresholdsapplied for determining the undesired condition can be adjusted based ona number of factors, including performance histories associated with aparticular node. In other embodiments, absolute thresholds can beapplied for determining certain types of undesired conditions, such as aring without an answer.

In one embodiment, the collection of call records can be performed atadjustable time periods. For instance, shorter collection periods can beutilized for high traffic areas. In another embodiment, the collectionof call records or data can be done according to scheduled transmissionsof such data to the module 604. In yet another embodiment, a distributeddata collection system can be utilized for gathering the information andparsing the records to obtain the information utilized by module 606 fordetermining an undesired condition.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative diagrammatic representation of a machinein the form of a computer system 800 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 800 may include a processor 802 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 804 and a static memory 806, which communicate with each othervia a bus 808. The computer system 800 may further include a videodisplay unit 810 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system800 may include an input device 812 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 814 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 816, a signal generationdevice 818 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 820.

The disk drive unit 816 may include a computer-readable medium 822 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 824)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 824may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within the processor 802during execution thereof by the computer system 800. The main memory 804and the processor 802 also may constitute computer-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 824, or that which receives and executes instructions 824from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 826 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 826 using the instructions 824. Theinstructions 824 may further be transmitted or received over a network826 via the network interface device 820.

While the computer-readable medium 822 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructionsfor: obtaining billing data associated with a plurality of calls over aVoice Over Internet Protocol network; parsing the billing data todetermine calling numbers; determining whether a portion of theplurality of calls are to an emergency call center based on the billingdata; monitoring the portion of the plurality of calls for an undesiredcondition based at least in part on the portion of the plurality ofcalls being from one calling number or the portion of the calls beingfrom one geographic region; and presenting an alert when the undesiredcondition is detected.
 2. The storage medium of claim 1, comprisingcomputer instructions for further parsing called numbers and networknodes associated with each of the plurality of calls.
 3. The storagemedium of claim 2, wherein the one geographic region is associated witha network node through which each of the portion of the plurality ofcalls are communicating.
 4. The storage medium of claim 1, comprisingcomputer instructions for determining the undesired condition to be ablocked call, a cutoff call, a busy signal or a ring without an answer.5. The storage medium of claim 4, comprising computer instructions fordetermining a billing entity associated with the billing data andparsing the billing data based on parsing rules associated with thebilling entity.
 6. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computerinstructions for detecting the undesired condition based on the portionof the plurality of calls being greater than a pre-determined threshold.7. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the portion of the pluralityof calls is associated with at least one of a telephone numberassociated with a Public Safety Answering Point or a Public ServiceAccess Point, or an Internet Protocol National Security and EmergencyPreparedness number.
 8. A server comprising a controller to: obtain callrecords associated with a plurality of calls over a Voice Over InternetProtocol network; determine special service calls being made based onthe call records; monitor for the special service calls being made fromone calling number; and determine an undesired condition based at leastin part on the special service calls being made from the one callingnumber exceeding a threshold.
 9. The server of claim 8, wherein thecontroller is adapted to parse the call records to determine callingnumbers and called numbers of the plurality of calls.
 10. The server ofclaim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to parse the call recordsbased on parsing rules associated with entities generating the callrecords.
 11. The server of claim 10, wherein the call records comprisebilling data.
 12. The server of claim 8, wherein the controller isadapted to present alerts based on a determined undesired condition. 13.The server of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to determinethe undesired condition to be a blocked call, a cutoff call, a busysignal or a ring without an answer.
 14. A server comprising a controllerto: obtain call records associated with a plurality of calls over aVoice Over Internet Protocol network; determine special service callsbeing made based on the call records; monitor for the special servicecalls being made through one network node; and determine an undesiredcondition based at least in part on the special service calls being madethrough the one network node exceeding a threshold.
 15. The server ofclaim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to parse the call records todetermine network nodes through which the plurality of calls arecommunicating.
 16. The server of claim 14, wherein the controller isadapted to parse the call records to determine calling numbers andcalled numbers of the plurality of calls.
 17. The server of claim 14,wherein the call records comprise billing data, and wherein thecontroller is adapted to parse the billing data based on parsing rulesassociated with entities generating the billing data.
 18. The server ofclaim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the threshold. 19.The server of claim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to presentalerts based on a determined undesired condition.
 20. The server ofclaim 14, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the undesiredcondition to be a blocked call, a cutoff call, a busy signal or a ringwithout an answer.
 21. A server comprising a controller to: obtainbilling data associated with a plurality of calls over a Voice OverInternet Protocol network; determine special service calls being madebased on the billing data; monitor for the special service calls beingassociated with at least one of one calling number or one network node;and determine an undesired condition based at least in part on thespecial service calls being made from the one calling number or throughthe one network node exceeding a threshold.
 22. The server of claim 21,wherein the controller is adapted to determine the undesired conditionto be a blocked call, a cutoff call, a busy signal or a ring without ananswer.
 23. The server of claim 21, wherein the controller is adapted toparse the billing data to determine at least one of network nodesthrough which the plurality of calls are communicating, calling numbersof the plurality of calls and called numbers of the plurality of calls.24. The server of claim 21, wherein the controller is adapted to adjustthe threshold.
 25. A method, comprising: obtaining billing dataassociated with a plurality of calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocolnetwork; determining whether a portion of the plurality of calls are toa special service number based on the billing data; and monitoring theportion of the plurality of calls for an undesired condition based onthe portion of the plurality of calls being from one calling number orthe portion of the calls being through one network node.